Well, allow me to play devils advocate. We have a larger population than most countries in the world, so it follows somewhat at least, that we’d have better odds to produce great athletes. Just look at the size of the Olympic teams in Rio compared to our contingent.
That said, it’s about wealth. More money for everything. Better trainers, better training facilities, the ability to train year round, the ability to make your sport a full time job, etc..
Just look at how many athletes from other countries that have won medals (many gold) that have:
a) Gone to College in the US
b) Train in the US with Americans training them and
c) Live in the US.
There are several Russians, Jamaicans and a few others that I’ve noticed in the short time I’ve watched.
“Well, allow me to play devils advocate. We have a larger population than most countries in the world, so it follows somewhat at least, that we’d have better odds to produce great athletes. Just look at the size of the Olympic teams in Rio compared to our contingent.”
OK. I looked.
China has a population four plus times that of the USA - and their athletes are virtually professionals. I.e. they do not have other jobs, they work fulltime trying to show the world how glorious Communist China is.
They have 56 medals, or to make it fair 13 if you divide their population by four.